“Black Hearted Love” PJ Harvey & John Parish

Harvey last teamed up with Parish on 1996's relentlessly arty “Dance Hall at Louse Point” album, a disc that features on of my favorite PJ cuts, "That Was My Veil." They seem to have conjured up magic again, starting with the gorgeous lead single.

“The Girl and the Robot” Royksopp feat. Robyn

There’s a decent chance that at least one of this electronic duo's songs has gotten stuck in your head. “Remind Me” was the soundtrack to that funny commercial where the Geico caveman is on an airport conveyor belt. The duo teams up with fellow Swedish all-star Robyn for this lush, new dance track.

“Weekend Wars” MGMT

Sue me, hipsters! I slept on MGMT when I was making my best of 2008 albums list. I even kept getting them mixed up with STS9 for a while. Stupid acronyms! But I’m definitely on the bandwagon now.

“The Czar” Mastodon

On their new "Crack the Skye" disc, the hippest metal band on the planet is partying like it's 1974 with sprawling, prog guitar epics that channel King Crimson and, here, Pink Floyd. Personally, my favorite Mastodon songs are hooky but heavy tracks from “Leviathan” and “Remission.” But the new album is growing on me in stages.

“Who Medgar Evers Was” Dalek

Lately, I’ve been trying to turn friends on to this trippy, Jersey hip-hop duo, describing its hazy, foreboding beats and politically oriented lyrics as “Public Enemy meets My Bloody Valentine.” Not a description that that's likely to get them played on KUBE, hence their penchant for touring with the Melvins, Isis and other trippy rock label mates from Mike Patton's Ipecac Records. “Absence” and “Abandoned Language” are unsung masterpieces. This one’s from the new “Gutter Tactics” disc.

“Grandfather Claws” Helms Alee

Lastly, several posts ago I mentioned becoming a fan of this local trio after catching it up at Top of Tacoma. Here’s a sample of the heat they bring on their "Night Terror" CD.

Fans will be able to win the Venture Bros. guitar that the Ventures' Don Wilson plays during the big finale of the April 10 Ventures, Fabulous Wailers show at the Moore Theatre.

That’s among the announcements members of the legendary Tacoma rock outfits are expected to make at a news conference they’re holding at Seattle’s historic Edgewater Inn later this morning. The guitar will be raffled off at the show by the Venturettes, a group that came out of popular Seattle rock jock Mark Christopher’s campaign to get the Ventures into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Pretty cool, huh.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will also speak at the press conference, as will Lt. Governor Brad Owen, who will actually play a couple of songs with the Ventures on April 10.

I’m thinking organizers will also unveil a few details that folks at Tacoma’s Blue Horizon Records have been filtering my way over the past couple of weeks – about the forthcoming "Two Car Garage" CD and a related documentary that the label is working on. The Blue Horizon folks were on site filming at Little Bill’s show the other night.

They might mention something about Alec Baldwin being tapped to narrate. Blue Horizon’s Leonard Haggarty is in New York working on related footage as we speak. And they’ll fill in more details regarding their world tour, which kicks off with the Moore show, and will take them around the U.S., Canada and Japan.

“Who knows. This concert is a world tour kick off so we might – gosh – after 50 years start making some noise out there.”

You’ll be able to learn more about the Wailers and Ventures’ legacies, and how they got started, in Sunday’s SoundLife section.

Apparently, the appetite for a middle-aged New Kids on the Block is much greater than I ever imagined. They headlined the T-Dome last fall. And their comeback bid will take them to Auburn's White River Amphitheatre on July 7, Live Nation announced Monday. Tickets are $19.50 to $79.50, and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Check here for details.

Booking guy Jesse Turcotte is doing good stuff with his new gig over at Doyle’s Public House. He kicked off a new Saturday night music series last weekend with Tacoma guitar legend Jerry Miller, of Moby Grape fame. Unfortunately, I missed most of that as I was off coverin’ Little Bill’s shindig over at the Rialto. But Turcotte handed me a flier with a bunch of free Saturday shows that are coming up. Since I don’t see ‘em posted on the Doyle’s site, I’ll post ‘em here:

April 4: Westerly CD release party
April 11: Revengers, Nasty Left
April 18: All Night Yard Sale
April 25: The Toughtimes
May 2: The F-ing Eagles and Blanco Bronco
May 9: Rocking Chair Money

I dropped in on the soft opening of 1022 South on Sunday night. That’s the new joint just opened at 1022 S. J St., a space owned by the Frontier Room’s Neil Harris, in case you missed my last couple of posts. And it’s still dark, hip and ultra cozy with a slick but subtle makeover. It takes a discerning eye, or someone who spent way too much time in there when it was the Monsoon Room, to pick out the changes. The shelves and arrangement behind the bar is different, a bit slicker. The fancy piano in the corner is definitely new, and 1022 South's Chris Langston tells me local singer-songwriter types will get a crack at the 100-year-old antique once it's back in tune.

But atmosphere aside, the thing that's bound to make this place a great date or concert pre-funk spot is the unique drink menu. All the drink names are nods to 1022 South organizers' favorite authors. Death in the Afternoon is for Hemingway. The Bluebird is for Bukowski. We'll go with Nietzsche over the less marketable alternative for the Hilltop Uber Alles.

The one I really fell in love with was the Garden of Forking Paths, basically a modified mojito made with tequila in lieu of rum and a bit of muddled jalapeno that gives it a pleasant bite. I was a big fan on sip one, having conditioned my taste buds through years of palak paneer consumption. But my girlfriend couldn't get past the lingering burn and left hers unfinished.

But one thing that visibly put off a couple of patrons I saw checking out the menu was how pricey the specialty cocktails were. At $8 to $10 a pop, not sure how well they will go over during this whole recession/depression thing we've got going on. But they've got cheaper beer on tap, too, at any rate.

Langston tells me the web page is still in the works, but I believe this is them on MySpace.

March 28 shall henceforth be known as Little Bill Day. So says Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, who delivered said proclamation Saturday night at the Rialto Theatre during a celebration of the life, legacy and music of Little Bill Engelhart, elder statesman of Washington blues and the namesake of seminal Tacoma garage band, Little Bill & the Bluenotes.

Engelhart turned 70 on St. Patrick’s Day. And while he may not be as famous as some of his Tacoma rock peers, he’s a legendary figure in the development of rock and blues in Washington. Fabulous Wailer bassist and former Bluenotes band mate Buck Ormsby took the stage to explain how he, Engelhart, Lasse Aines and Frank Dutra met up after seeing a 1955 screening of iconic rock flick “Blackboard Jungle,” back when they all attended Jason Leigh Junior High. That fateful encounter led to the Bluenotes, the band that paved the way for the Wailers and the Ventures, Tacoma bands that would in turn inspire fledgling rockers around the globe. (Dutra and the Wailers’ Kent Morrill were also in attendance.)

Engelhart was a portrait of cool, dressed in a black fedora and sunglasses as he sat on stage near wife, Jan Engelhart, and local band leader and show organizer Randy Oxford. And Little Bill looked pleased as he observed a cross-section of regional blues all-stars put their stamp on his material, as recorded for a new tribute CD “Big Blues for Little Bill.”

Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers ripped through a rockin’ version of Little Bill’s “Texas.” Adorned in black leather and slicked back hair, slide guitar wiz Henry Cooper offered a simmering riff on Engelhart’s “Comin’ Home Again.” And Junkyard Jane’s Leanne Trevalyan played a mean washboard as she sang “Thangs Gone Be” with the Blues Vespers All Star Band, a group of musicians that had performed at Immanuel Presbyterian Church’s monthly blues series.

And, of course, the man himself capped things off. I had my camera handy for the second half of the show, and here are some more highlights.

Mayor Bill Baarsma set up his Little Bill Day proclamation by recalling a time in the ‘50s when Tacoma’s “city fathers” barred Little Bill & the Bluenotes from playing “the Devil’s music.” “I’m the city fathers now, so I get to make things right,” he joked. Engelhart was also presented with an honorary diploma to Stadium High School, where he didn’t graduate in the 1950s, in part because of difficulties he suffered because of polio. Well, he also apparently had the rebel without a cause thing going on, too. “Mr. Christie told me on my last day, ‘Bill, you’ll never amount to a damn thing,’” he recalled with a big grin. “He was almost right.”
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Diva Patti Allen came out with guns blazing as the Randy Oxford Band got started with Etta James’ funktastic “The Blues Is My Business.” Between songs, she remarked at how she’d worked with Engelhart since the early 1960s. But between her infectious intensity and the form fitting dress she was wearing, it was hard to believe her when she joked, “We’re all on Medicaid now. It’s workin’, honey. I’m usin’ all the benefits.” In a poignant moment, Allen also acknowledged Randy Oxford Band drummer Riky Hudson, who recently suffered a stroke. Hudson received and ovation as he flashed a peace sign from his wheel chair at the back of the theater.
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Backed by the Rusty Williams Band, Merilee Rush also brought the house down with a booming delivery of her late ‘60s hit “Angel in the Morning” (also a hit for Juice Newton.) The band also put their stamp on Engelhart’s “Better Things to Do.” “We’re gonna do this song we took of his, and we just butchered it,” joked the bubbly Rush.
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Of course, Engelhart’s set included his 1959 hit “I Love an Angel,” with Heather Mueller, of Randy Oxford Band fame, handling the vocals. “She’s the only other person I’ve heard sing that besides me,” Engelhart joked. Many of the night’s performers crowded the stage for the big finale. And a palpably thrilled Engelhart made his exit with a few heartfelt words of thanks. “Thank you for letting Bill Engelhart be Little Bill all these years.”
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Sean Culver at Jazzbones tells me he's booked Grand Duchy, a band featuring Pixies front man Frank Black. The band's headed to the Boneyard on May 2. There's a blank spot on the calendar at the moment, but I'd expect them to have more details posted over here pretty soon.

Smoky, Tom Waitsey vocals? Astronomy in jokes? Occasional reminders that everyone in the room is headed six feet under? Hey, my latest Grit City Bootleg subject must be Tacoma's John Walker & the Hitchhikers. You know, in case you didn’t glean that from the headline. Click the links to hear clips from last night's gig at the New Frontier Lounge.

Mirable Dictu

Gang’s Done Gone Away

The Eternal Battle

John Walker (top) showcased his existential brand of pop last night at the New Frontier Lounge. And, OK, we get it Bobby Galaxy. You know how to play a bunch of instruments. But rocking a washboard tie solo just seems like showing off.
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Chris Langston, the man behind Tacoma's new lounge, 1022 South, tells me his place has passed final inspections and will have a soft opening starting at 8 p.m. Sunday (March 29). He said, the bar - which is opening at 1022 S. J St., the former home of the Monsoon Room - will switch to normal business hours starting the next day.

The space has apparently undergone only minor remodeling, which has added a little more seating space. But here's a change that piqued my interest: In contrast to the DJs that Monsoon owner Laura Malone used to showcase, Langston tells me he's looking into dropping a piano into that cozy, little joint. Hmmm. Interesting.

Daily newspapers aren't the only media outlets getting crushed by this brutal economy. Advertising Age is reporting that Blender magazine has pulled the plug and that the current issue, the one with Kelly Clarkson on the cover, will be its last.

I've been meaning to pass along some tidbits of information I've been learning about the Ventures, Fabulous Wailers show that's coming up at the Moore on April 10. For starters, I've confirmed that Lt. Gov. Brad Owen will jump on stage with the Ventures to play sax on a couple of songs. (Learn more about his band connections here. Plus, the April 10 show will actually be the kickoff for a world tour. A related announcement is expected to fill in the details on all of that, a forthcoming documentary and the new "Two Car Garage" CD, next Tuesday.

Mastodon's new album "Crack the Skye" is one of this year's most highly anticipated discs. Hey, I know I'm giddy with anticipation. And it's just hours away, assuming you haven't found some way to steal it through some torrent site already.

Well, you'll be able to get it legally right around midnight, at any rate. And I thought I'd post this link to the interview I did with singer-bassist Troy Sanders last year before Mayhem Fest. Then, his band was in the studio working on cuts like lead single "Oblivion" and "The Czar," and he promised a "dark and creepy" album with a heaping helping of '70s prog influences to boot.

Here's more good news, for those of you already excited about the Death Cab for Cutie announcement. Sub Pop recording artists, the Shins, will headline Showbox at the Market on May 4 and 5. Both shows will kick off at 9 p.m. The May 4 show will be open to all ages, while you'll have to be 21 or older for the May 5 gig.

Tickets are $34.99 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Check here for details.

Bill Engvall headlined the Tacoma Dome in December. And in May, his Blue Collar buddy Larry the Cable Guy will take a crack at T-town's biggest venue. His Eat, Drink & Be Larry Tour will drop in on the T-Dome on May 15, the Tacoma Dome announced today.

Tickets will go for $35.75 to $55.75 beginning 10 a.m. Friday (March 27). Check here for more info.

When I last spoke to him, Death Cab for Cutie’s Nick Harmer remarked at how weird it was that his band hadn’t done a proper, headlining Seattle date for "Narrow Stairs," considering how many Washington shows the band played during last year’s touring cycle. (He didn't count Bumbershoot, since it's a festival.)

Well, now Death Cab has got one. Or the band is headlining close to Seattle in Redmond, at least. Seattle Theater Group just announcing that Death Cab will headline Marymoor Park on July 18. Vancouver, BC-based power-pop outfit, the New Pornographers, have been tapped for opening honors.

Tickets are going for $35 beginning 11 a.m. Saturday (March 28). Find out more here.

The folks behind a new lounge called 1022 South plan to have a soft opening by week's end, having been issued an interim license by the Washington Liquor Control Board. Chris Langston, the man running the show, says tentative plans are to open doors at 1022 S. J St. -- where the Monsoon Room did business last year -- some time between Thursday and Sunday.

The building is owned by Neil Harris, who also owns the New Frontier Lounge in the Dome district.

I sought out Spanaway country artist Jonathan Harris for my second Grit City bootleg subject. And the challenges were many Friday night when he headlined Applini’s Two Clean & Sober Club in Puyallup. (It opened a few weeks ago at 1015 N. Meridian, in the spot that used to be Mugs & Jugs Sports Bar, if you haven’t heard of it.)

It’s a cozy joint, so there were no remote corners where I could retreat to escape the chatter around the pool tables or burger and fry transactions taking place within arms reach of my microphone. Oy! But just when I thought all was lost, Jonathan hands me this pristine, soundboard recording from a show he did last year at the Muckleshoot Casino. Shweeeeeet! Problem solved. Enjoy.

A Night Like This

A Good Day to Run (Darryl Worley)

Little Cabin/I’m Over You (Keith Whitley)

Something Like This/All Shook Up (Elvis)

Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me (Keith Urban)/Brother Jukebox (Mark Chesnutt)

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off (Joe Nichols)/Seminole Wind (John Anderson)

All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down (The Mavericks), Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down (Merle Haggard)

Sounds Like a Deal to Me/ Duke of Hazzard Theme (Waylon Jennings)

Acoustic jam

“Redneck rap,” Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett)

Like what you hear? Check out Harris' tour schedule, including details on a new country night he's trying to get started at the Tacoma Sportsmen's Club, here.

Little Bill Engelhart is a Tacoma legend since, among other things, he and the Bluenotes pretty much started the rock scene as we know it in these parts, way back in the mid-50s. And considering how influential the bands that followed in Little Bill & the Bluenotes’ wake were (the likes of the Ventures, the Sonics and the Fabulous Wailers), Engelhart indirectly helped launch rock scenes in a bunch of other places, too. So, just to get you in the mood for the Little Bill tribute that’s scheduled for Saturday (March 28) at the Rialto, here’s a clip of the big guy playing “Louie Louie” at Jambalaya in Parkland last fall.

Against my better judgment, I risked a rare and reliably annoying pilgrimage to Maggie O’Toole’s last night. It’s where my friends wanted to go. So, outvoted, I shut up and tagged along. But between the door guys’ predictably surly and borderline hostile demeanor, and an attempt to rip me off with a $20, 1 a.m. cover charge (owner Jeff Corbin says its 10, but contemptuous door guy seemed to double it on the spot) I was reminded of why I never venture to this place if I don't have to. Besides, the constant blare of car alarms and heated banter in the parking lot seemed like fair warning for the drunken shenanigans that would likely spill out of the place at any second. I thought better and bounced. See ya in a year, if that, Maggie's.

But enough about me. Which nightclubs make you guys break out in hives?

Was thoroughly impressed with Tacoma-Seattle power trio Helms Alee (two-thirds of which is the duo Lozen) at Top of Tacoma last night. They're heavy, sludgy, distorted and kind of prog in a way that'll appeal to fans of the Melvins, Isis and (especially) Jucifer. Bought a copy of "Night Terror," their album from Hydra Head Records and am jamming it into my iPod as we speak.

Speaking of which, new Critic's iPod clips are on the way.

I'm usually pretty quick to delete the TMZ updates that show up in my inbox about every 10 seconds, especially since they rarely involve Northwest celebs. Eddie Vedder and Dave Matthews are, alas, not good scandal fodder. Except for maybe that time Dave gave those boaters in Chicago a shower they'll never forget. Ewwwwww! But it caught my attention today when I learned that even Soul Train's Don Cornelius is getting in trouble these days.

Say it ain't so, Don Cornelius! Well, maybe some of these guys will step up and be character witness.

Just got a tip on the sorts of special guests that may show up for the historic Ventures/Fabulous Wailers show coming up April 10 at Seattle's Moore Theatre. (Ticket info here. A source close to the bands tells me that Gail Harris, who sang with the Fabulous Wailers in theirs '60s heyday and occasionally since then, will be reunite with her old band onstage.

And apparently the Ventures' Don Wilson is homies with actors Steven Seagal and Billy Bob Thornton, who are rumored to be on the guest list. You know, in case ruckus breaks breaks out during the meet-and-greet and somebody needs a kung-fu butt whoopin'.

P.S. I was gonna hold off until a related story I'm working on runs in the paper, but I think I'll actually start posting some interview clips in the next few days. Bookmark and check back.

Elton John and Billy Joel have scheduled a second Seattle stop for their Face 2 Face tour, set for Nov. 7 at KeyArena, Live Nation announced. The second show was added after the Nov. 4 show there sold out in less than an hour. Tickets for the second show will go for $54 to $179.50, and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday (March 23). Learn more here.

Today, Motley Crue announced that Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool And Charm City Devils will provide support for the band's second annual Crue Fest tour. And if you've been reading this blog, you'll know that show is set for a July 27 stop at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre, during which the Crue will perform all of '80s smash album "Dr. Feelgood" in its entirety.

You can find more up to date info on the tour site here.

Tacoma rock and blues pioneer Bill Engelhart, the namesake of Little Bill & the Bluenotes, turns 70 today. Randy Oxford recently produced a tribute CD, called "Big Blues for Little Bill." And tonight, there will be a big party at the Triple Door to celebrate the man's legacy.

I’ve actually written a preview for a similar show being held on March 28 at the Rialto Theatre that’ll run in Sunday’s paper. Among other things, it chronicles how Little Bill & the Bluenotes paved the way for the Ventures, the Fabulous Wailers and hundreds of other bands that have come out of Tacoma in the last half century.

Meanwhile, I thought I’d post a clip with Little Bill talking about highs and lows he experienced with his 1959 hit “I Love an Angel.” Click here.

By the way, proceeds from both shows benefit the Dystonia Foundation in the name of Little Bill's son, Tony Engelhart, who suffers from the disease.

Little Bill & the Bluenotes headline the Little J.E.M. in Fife, circa 1958. The band retreated down Highway 99 and started putting on shows on the other side of the Puyallup River after Tacoma police told them "you'll never play in Tacoma again," according to namesake Bill Engelhart.
COURTESY OF THE RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION

Reunited jam band champs Phish announced additional summer tour dates today, including a two-night stand at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Grant County on Aug. 7 and 8. Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 27, according to today's announcement. Learn more on the band's fan site.

You know, I was meaning to post something on this announcement over the weekend, but it slipped my mind as I was fooling around with my Girl Trouble bootlegs. By "this Monday" ol' Eddie Spaghetti actually means yesterday, by the way. So you can tune in tomorrow morning to hear the guy, who will be on the air through Friday (March 20).

From the Supersuckers fan letter:

We here at Supersuckers Industries are pleased to announce the network broadcasting debut of none other than our very own Mr. Eddie Spaghetti! That's right, the afore mentioned lead singer of the Greatest Rock-N-Roll Band In The World will be making his presence known in the world of radio as he takes to the airwaves starting this Monday from 6 to 9 a.m. on Seattle's own, 107.7, The End.

You will be able to hear him struggle his way through the morning shift all week long as he will be taking a stab at being a "real morning jock", starting Monday, March 16th and running through to Friday the 20th. So make sure and set your alarm to wake up at the crack of dawn to hear what may just turn out to be commercial suicide for this Seattle radio station and the public shaming of one of your favorite artists.

The End's promotions director Joe Hammill tells me more celebrity guest DJs will rotate into that morning slot in the weeks to come.

Hmmm. Now what could make that Fall Out Boy tour that's headed to WaMu Theater on April 10 more appealing? What could make all those 14-year-old girls in the audience screech even louder?

Apparently, 50 Cent, who has joined the emo-pop band's Believers Never Die Part Deux tour, Universal Music announced today.

That bears repeating. 50 Cent. Fallout Boy. Together. For some reason. You know, it's about time someone catered to the demographic that both thinks Pete Wentz when it's not bustin' a cap in a @#%@%#@@#.

But before you get all excited, 50 Cent is only playing five tour stops, only one of which (Dallas) has been officially announced. FOB will apparently be letting the cat out of the bag out on this site.

Are you ready for the monster hits of 1981, Keeeeeeeent?

The ShoWare Center hosted its first concert, with Christian pop star Chris Tomlin, on March 8. And for its second act, the Kent arena will turn the keys over to Styx, REO Speedwagon and .38 Special for a big ol' '80s classic rock-a-thon on May 27. I'm guessin' the encore may include Styx and REO Speedwagon teaming up on their new, co-written single “Can’t Stop Rockin’.”

Tickets will go for $39.50 to $85 beginning 10 a.m. next Monday (March 23), details here.

Good goomily goo! Talk about technical difficulties! It took me forever to upload that second Girl Trouble set from the band's 25th anniversary party Friday night at the New Frontier Lounge. And then it took me even longer to sort out the stupid coding issues that were keeping the @#%@%@%@ links from working.

But here that set is, y'all -- divided into easier to digest chunks this time. And click here if you missed the boot I posted from the band’s first set, a recreation of its first ever set from 1984.

Girl Trouble's second set, part 1

... part 2

... part 3

... part 4

... the big finale

OK, so a few of you were asking me if I'd be doing a writeup of Girl Trouble's 25th anniversary party, which took place last night at the New Frontier Lounge.

Well, I've got something much better than that, my friends. I've been thinking of launching a bootleg series for a while, featuring some of the best local bands Grit City has to offer. And how many bands are as synonymous with T-town as Girl Trouble, the band that immortalized this fair city with "My Hometown"? So I checked with the band to see if they were up for being "bootlegged," went to last night's show armed with my little Microtrack recorder and managed to capture two sets before the battery juice ran out. And, you know, people started yappin' at me and ruining the the take. Sheesh! I'm gonna have to hide or plug directly into the board next time I do one of these things.

Anyway, here's the first set in its entirety. Check back later, and I'll have the second one posted in smaller chunks.

Click here to listen to Girl Trouble recreate the set list from their first gig in 1984, with covers from the Cramps, X and a few more you may recognize.

P.S. K.P.'s vocals get clearer a minute or two in.

Girl Trouble's Bill "Kahuna" Henderson (foreground) and Kurt Kendall Friday night at the New Frontier.
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... or you just want to relive it, I'll be posting something special later this weekend once I clean up some audio. No, really, I think you'll like it. Stay tuned.

Girl Trouble singer K.P. Kendall was in rare form and, of course, eventually shirtless Friday night at the New Frontier Lounge. His popular garage-punk band -- also Bon Von Wheelie, Bill "Kahuna" Henderson and Dale Phillips -- celebrated 25 years of "eluding fame" with three big sets, including the one patterned after Girl Trouble's first gig, on March 9, 1984 at Ft. Steilacoom College (since renamed Pierce College.)
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Members of Olympia's Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies are on the bill for a benefit for Randy Oxford band drummer Riky Hudson, who recently suffered a stroke. It's Sunday (March 15) at Jazzbones. Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers, Junkyard Jane's Leanne Trevalyan, Too Slim & the Taildraggers are also on the bill. Click here for more details.

This spring, Dane Cook will undergo a large scale arena comedy tour that includes a June 5 stop at Seattle’s KeyArena, the comedian’s publicist announced today.

Cook – who has starred in two popular HBO specials and movies “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Mr. Brooks” and "Good Luck Chuck" – will launch his tour with a two-night stand in Uncasville, Conn., on April 5 and 6.

Ticket are $30 to $100, and Ticketmaster will start selling them to the general public at 5 p.m. Friday (March 13).

In case you missed Vicci Martinez CD release show last Friday at Jazzbones, PLU students Bryanna Plog and Kelsey Lid shot some cool video. Check it out.

The Jonas Brothers’ world tour will wind through Tacoma, Live Nation announced today. To be more specific, the Jo Bros will return to the Tacoma Dome, where they appeared with Kiss-FM’s Jingle Bell Bash in 2007, on June 28.

Live Nation will begin selling tickets to the general public on March 20, but some tickets will be available to CITI card holders beginning Monday (March 16). Click here for details.

And you can listen to interview clips that I posted before last year's Jo Bros show in Everett here and here.

NME has details. Cool! They still rocked when I caught 'em a year and a half ago at the Puyallup Fair.

Piano men Elton John and Billy Joel are reprising their popular Face 2 Face tour this year, which will include a Nov. 4 stop at Seattle's KeyArena, Live Nation announced today.

The tour will feature John and Joel starting out at a pair of facing grand pianos, delivering series of duets before they split up to for separate sets of their smash hits. A little "Tiny Dancer" or "New York State of Mind" sing-along, anyone? Then, of course, the pop legends reunite for the big finale. But you knew all that if you caught the duo the last time they invaded Puget Sound together, in 2001 at the Tacoma Dome. This will be the first Face 2 Face stop in Seattle.

Tickets are $54 to $179.50 and will be available through Ticketmaster and Live Nation beginning 10 a.m. on Monday (March 16).

Well, U2 announced world tour dates today, but only Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas and East Rutherford, NJ are listed in the U.S. NME reports that a Vancouver, BC date is also in the works, that being within reasonable driving distance from these parts. But no Tacoma or Seattle show? What's up with that?

But with some pretty big gaps between the announced tour dates, I'm guessing more announcements may be on the way, or the high-tech production of this stadium tour requires some serous set-up time.

OK, I'm finally like all the cool kids and on twitter (www.twitter.com/noiseblog). Then again, the cool kids have probably moved on to some hipper new thing that lets them keep up with each other telepathically or something. But so what! I've done some cool interviews, ranging from T-town's own Vicci Martinez to punk legend Exene Cervenka of X, and plan to post lots of audio soon. So I you should really click the link for updates. Because just bookmarking is sooooooo 1999.

No, really. NME reports that Miley Cyrus fired the first shot across Radiohead's bow during a Portland radio interview, apparently because the British band snubbed her attempt to meet them at the Grammys. Here's part of her outraged rant, as quoted in the article:

"The reason I'm in this business is to make people happy. I left 'cause I was so upset. I wasn't going to watch. Stinkin' Radiohead! I'm gonna ruin them, I'm going to tell everyone."

Can't make this stuff up, folks. So what's next? Yo Gabba Gabba vs. Nine Inch Nails?

Speaking of the Wailers, was looking online for something else when I stumbled across this clip of The Wailers' "Hang Up" set to footage from some kitschy flick called "The Astro-Zombies." Now I've gotta find "Astro-Zombies." Which means I may have to pay all my late fees over at Stadium Video.

Remember that Sonics concert DVD that's been in the works for the last year and a half or so? Well, Buck Ormsby -- the Sonics' manager when he's not playing bass for his own band, the Fabulous Wailers -- gave me an update the other day when he was up in Seattle recording interviews for the project.

Click this link to listen.

The Wailers/Ventures biz he mentions as the clip fades out is, of course, related to the bands' forthcoming split CD "Two Car Garage" and the CD release party set for April 10 at the Moore in Seattle.

Pop publicity firm Biz 3 just announced tour dates for British hip-hop phenom Lady Sovereign, and they include a May 21 stop at the soon-to-be-re-opened Crocodile Cafe. I'm kind of underwhelmed by her Cure-sampling new single "So Human" (click the YouTube video). But the mash-up of cuts from next month's "Jigsaw" release is pretty tight, and can't wait to see her do the new stuff live. Anyway, great warm-up for Sasquatch. And feel free to listen to Lady Sov, aka Louise Harman, from my last interview with her here.

It's not looking good for pop star Chris Brown, who was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats today. Of course, you can count on TMZ to have all the latest dirt.

Maybe. Not that I've heard anything specific, mind you. Just read Rolling Stone's report on a possible stadium tour with the G N' R 2.0. Their story features this quote from manager Irving Azoff about the reclusive and "misunderstood" Axl Rose:

“Axl has been basically quiet, keeping out of the limelight for almost 15 years. People think they know him but they only really only know what has been said about him by questionable people. He is a good guy and often misunderstood — he is a professional who has worked very hard to build and maintain a high creative standard for Guns n’ Roses, which I support. We have some exciting things in the works this year for Gn’R, I’m looking forward to it.”

Local artists and promoter Matt Eklund just dropped me a line about another elementally themed shindig he's got coming up. In January, his Pacific Fusion Productions brought a breath of Fresh Air to Robert Daniel Gallery. And he just sent me details on Playing with Fire, which will showcase 10 DJs, 15 local artists, fire dancing, jugglers, stilt walkers and a fashion show, from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. on April 4 in Freight House Square's Rainier Room. You gotta be 18 and over to get in, he says, and there will be bar for those who show valid I.D.

Prince gave fans a copy of his “Musicology” disc when they bought tickets to see him a while back. Metallica followed suit, giving fans a copy of "Death Magnetic" with the high end ticket package last year. And now No Doubt ups the ante big time. Fans who buy the priciest tickets for the bands summer tour online will also get No Doubt's entire digital catalog -- dozens of songs.

Hey, I like this trend. Tickets for the July 19 show at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre go on Sale Saturday (March 7), and you'll find more details here.

And click the link for a more detailed breakdown of the digital downloads, clipped from the Live Nation announcement.

=> Read more!

Roger Waters has done it. Queensryche, too. And now Motley Crue is performing one of their own iconic albums in its entirety. That would be "Dr. Feelgood," which will be featured in its entirety from beginning to end when Crue Fest 2 comes to Auburn's White River Amphitheatre, the band announced today. It's to celebrate the disc's 20th anniversary. Learn more here.

OK, so that webcast of Neko Case's concert in Amsterdam that I blogged about recently didn't quite pan out, with the show getting canceled and all. But soon, local fans will get to see her live and in person. The Seattle Theatre Group just announced Case, a former Tacoma resident, will headline the Paramount Theatre on June 4.

Case -- who immortalized T-town with her songs "Thrice All American" and "South Tacoma Way" -- will be touring in support of her new album album "Middle Cyclone," which was released today.

Grandaddy's Jason Lytle will add support for this show, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. that day. Tickets are $22 to $27, and they'll be available through Ticketmaster beginning 10 a.m. Saturday (March 7). You can also learn more here.

Tacoma Events Commission just released a partial lineup for its second annual Gray Sky Blues Festival, which is set for April 4, after the Daffodil Parade. This year's headliner will be bluesman Zac Harmon, who will play with Cary Black on bass and Mike Slivka on drums at the Swiss Pub. And local favorite, the Randy Oxford Band, will play a festival after party at the HUB Restaurant. ]

Check the schedule below, and I think they'll be putting some updated info here:

Gray Sky Blues Festival 2009 schedule

The Swiss Pub
Corvette car show begins at noon
The Son Jack Jr. Band, 1 p.m.
The Al Earick Band with Mariano Silver, 2:30 p.m.
The Randy Oxford Band, 4 p.m.
Zac Harmon, 6 p.m.

The Harmon Brewery
Classic Car show starts at noon
The Cody Rentas Band, noon
Little Bill & the Bluenotes, 1:30 p.m.
Maia Santell and House Blend, 3 p.m.
Junkyard Jane, 4:30 p.m.

Cutter's Point Coffee (the one at 1936 Pacific Ave.)
Alice Stuart, 2 p.m.

Indochine Restaurant
TBA, music from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Urban XChange
TBA

The Hub Restaurant
The after party with The Randy Oxford Band, 8 p.m. to midnight

Mastodon just announced tour dates. The Seattle show is April 22 at Neumo's. Check here for other stops.

Country star Brad Paisley gets the party started with a little "Mud on the Tires" Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.
ERNEST JASMIN

So why isn’t Brad Paisley on one of those Guitar Hero, anyway? They could make a special “Guitar Hero: Nashville” or something.

Such were the deep thoughts that sprung to mind as I sat in the Tacoma Dome press box last night, inspired by a funny spoof of the popular video game that popped up on Paisley's video backdrop as he performed his hit, “Celebrity.”

Hey, there's no doubt the guy can shred. Fans knew that well before Paisley put his hot licks front and center on his latest instrumental disc, “Play: The Guitar Album.” And if you haven’t noticed, the guy is kinda popular, as evident from the 12,000 or so folks who showed up at the T-Dome to catch his two-hour set (Paisley’s biggest draw for an indoor show, they were saying behind the scenes.)

I’m just sayin’, Activision. You’re leaving money on the table. Think about it. And I want a cut when you make the game.

The Guitar Hero clip pitted Little Jimmy Dickens against Taylor Swift, the first in a string of celebrity video cameos that included fun flashes of Keith Urban, Alison Krauss and William Shatner, the guy who actually showed up in person last time Paisley played the Puyallup Fair. But it was just one component that went into a pricelessly clever video presentation, one of the slicker multi-media setups I’ve seen at a country show.

Nearly every song got a special treatment, from the Saturday-morning-cartoon-style band avatars that battled diabolical villains during the “Play” medley (Paisley himself was credited with the animation) to the critters-eye view of a tick stalking babes and hounds during encore selection, “Ticks.” Paisley even breathed life into the obligatory band intro during “Letter to Me,” with “Tonight Show” worthy shots from each player’s high school yearbook presented next to their current mugs. That included a not too studly shot of the band leader himself, class of ’91, by the way.

“I think back to high school every time I sing this song, how scared I was with everything,” Paisley said, introducing to that cut. “I was scared I was gonna fail math … scared that my parachute pants were out of style.”

Not that the slick presentation totally overshadowed Paisley’s guitar heroics. During "She's Everything," the guy delivered a soaring solo reminiscent of “Purple Rain” as coronas pulsed from his body (you know, video again.) And it was obvious he's taken notes from some of rock's greats, whether he was dropping snippets of Dire Straits into the early set or delivering a cozy, campfire version of Clapton's "Layla" during a short acoustic set.

Paisley is one talented guy, and his goofy, self-deprecating sense of humor just makes him that much more lovable.

Check out a few scenes, or click here for the full set list.

Paisley and his band performed in front of a vivid, video backdrop. Their early set included "Mud on the Tires," "Better Than This" and "The World."
ERNEST JASMIN

Paisley roamed up and down three catwalks that jutted out into the crowd when he wasn't jamming in front of a giant video screen. Here he pauses to sign a fan's guitar as "The World" comes to a close.
ERNEST JASMIN

Rising country star Dierks Bentley channeled a mostly party vibe during his 40-minute opening set, too, which wound down with his biggest hits "What Was I Thinkin'" (which broke in Seattle) and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)". With time limited, he didn't showcase his introspective side with cuts like "Better Believer" and "Pray" from his new disc "Feel That Fire." Saving it for his next headlining tour? Or maybe tossed those in his private set earlier in the day at the Varsity Grill.
ERNEST JASMIN

Portrait of a country guitar hero: Brad Paisley Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.
ERNEST JASMIN

Brad Paisley’s show was a gas Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome, thanks in no small part to a slick video presentation that brought us Guitar Hero, Brad Paisley stye, and virtual cameos from the likes of Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Alison Krauss. Check back later and I’ll have more comments and some pics up. Meanwhile, here are a couple of set lists for you.

Brad Paisley set list
Tacoma Dome
Feb. 28, 2009

Mud on the Tires
Better Than This
The World
Wrapped Around
Waitin’ on a Woman
Celebrity
Mr. Policeman
I’m Still a Guy
Letter to Me
Start a Band
Fishing Song
She’s Everything
Instrumental “Play” medley
Whiskey Lullaby
Acoustic covers medley feat. Roger Miller's “King of the Road,” George Strait's "The Chair" and Clapton’s “Layla”
When I Get Where I'm Going
Online
Alcohol (with Dierks Bentley and Crystal Shawanda)

Encore:
Ticks
Let the Good Times Roll (B.B. King)

Dierks Bentley set list

How Am I Doin'
Feel That Fire
Lot of Leavin' Left to Do
Trying to Stop You Leaving
Sideways
Settle for a Slowdown
Closer
Every Mile a Memory
What Was I Thinkin’
Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

Opening act: Crystal Shawanda